TOKYO: Japan’s Nikkei index ended its last trading day of 2025 on Tuesday, adding 26.2 percent over the year on the back of major gains worldwide in tech stocks linked to artificial intelligence.

South Korea’s Kospi soared 75.6 percent, thanks to gains in chipmakers SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics and after a declaration of martial law in December 2024 rattled markets.

With two more trading days left of the year, the Nasdaq is up 22 percent and the CAC 40 by 10 percent. The Hong Kong Hang Seng index is up 32 percent with trading set to conclude on Wednesday.

AFP